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Moodle will allow different resources to appear to users based upon their language. This is a filter called Multi language content. This page goes into details of several ways of displaying resources to users based on language.
{{Filters}}
==Displaying text in multiple languages==
The multi-language content filter enables resources to be created in multiple languages. When turned on, it looks for <nowiki><span lang="xx" class="multilang"></nowiki> tags which indicate that a text contains multiple languages. Then it selects and outputs the text in the user's language (as set in their browser or in their preferences).


This is the information that was in [[Filters_%28administrator%29]].
==Enabling the multi-language content filter==


== Overview multi language ==
An admin can enable the multi-language content filter as follows:


The Multi-language content filter enables resources to be created in multiple languages. When turned on, it looks for <lang> tags which indicate that a text contains multiple languages. Then it selects and outputs the best language for the current user. The language of the resource will change when the user changes their selected Moodle language.  
# Go to ''Site administration > Plugins > Filters > Manage filters'' and in the dropdown menu for multi-language content select 'On'.
# If headings are to be shown in multiple languages too, select 'Content and headings' in the 'Apply to' column. Note that this may affect site performance.


== How to use ==
== How to use in a course ==
To use this feature first create your contents in multiple languages (in the same resource). Then enclose each language block in the following tags:


      <nowiki><span lang="XX">your_content_here</span>
To use this feature first create your contents in multiple languages (in the same resource). Then enclose each language block (aka multilang block) in the following tags:
      <span lang="YY">your_content_in_other_language_here</span>
</nowiki>


It is essential to be in the "code" editing (press <nowiki>[<>]</nowiki> in the HTML editor), when you enter these tags for them to work.
      <nowiki><span lang="XX" class="multilang">your_content_here</span>
      <span lang="YY" class="multilang">your_content_in_other_language_here</span></nowiki>


Even the HTML tagging
It is essential to be in '''the code editing mode''' (press <nowiki>[<>]</nowiki> in the HTML editor), when you enter these tags for them to work. Only spaces, tabs and enters can be used between the individual languages in the multilang block.
      <nowiki><lang lang="XX">your_content_here</lang>
      <lang lang="YY">your_content_in_other_language_here</lang>
</nowiki>
works, but may be unsupported from 1.7.
      <nowiki><lang="XX">your_content_here</lang>
    <lang="YY">your_content_in_other_language_here</lang>
</nowiki>
does NOT work.


Note: If your site uses a child language pack (see [[Language packs]] for the list), then the first span tag must be the parent language. Otherwise, when a user using the child language views the text, it will not be in the correct language for them (as reported in MDL-55197). For example, if your site uses en_us then the en span tag (as parent language) must be first i.e.


To be able to change even resource titles and summaries, you must chose "all strings" in the adminstration choices.
  <nowiki><span lang="en" class="multilang">your_content_in English</span>
  <nowiki> <span lang="en">Matematically</span> <span lang="sv">Matematiskt (svenska)</span></nowiki>
      <span lang="de" class="multilang">your_content_in_German_here</span></nowiki>
would function as English or Swedish title.


It doesn't seem to work for course titles (neither long nor short version).
==How to use for assignment submission agreements==


In the course summary:
#With the filter enabled, go to ''Site administration > Plugins > Activity modules > Assignment > Assignment settings.
#In the submission statement, add (for example)


<nowiki><span lang="en">Growth is often a major concern in planning society.
      <nowiki><span lang="en" class="multilang">This assignment is my own work, except where I have acknowledged the use of the works of other people.</span>
How can one avoid superficial conclusions? <br>
<span lang="fr" class="multilang">Ce devoir est le fruit de mon travail personnel, sauf aux endroits où l'utilisation d'oeuvre d'autres auteurs est clairement indiquée.</span> </nowiki>
(Exists in Swedish too. Finns på svenska också)</span>
<span lang="sv">Tillväxt är ofta använt i samhällsdebatten.  
Hur kan man undvika ytliga slutsatser?
(Finns på engelska också. Exists in English too.)
<br /></span> </nowiki>


Can show in the chosen language (and point out that the other language is there).
== How it works internally ==


That the filter works on multilanguage blocks is important, see forum: http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=51603 :
# Filter first looks for ''multilang blocks'' in the text
From which this is copied (and ought to be shortened):
# For each multilang block:
<nowiki>
#* If there are texts in the currently active language, print them
... how the multilang filter works:
#* Else, if there exists texts in the current parent language, print them
#* Else, print the first language found in the text
# Text outside of multilang blocks will be shown always


1) First of all it looks for multilang Blocks.
== Common problems ==
One Multilang block of text is defined as one group of <span lang="XX">
tags together, without anything between them.


2) After this detection of Blocks, for each of them, Moodle selects
* The multilang filter is not enabled. It can be enabled by a site administrator in ''Settings > Site administration > Plugins > Filters > Manage filters''.
the best language for the user displaying the info, showing its info
* Extra characters between language span tags - editor might add <nowiki><br /></nowiki> or other tags, please review the html in source view
and discarding the rest of lang tags in the block.
* If the course setting is "force" some language, you won't be able to change the displayed language.
* Extra spaces in language span tag
* The multilang filter does not work with the course short name! A course's short name is meant as a unique course identifier, so it does not use the multilang filter


So, applying this behaviour to the example you wrote above, we have:
==The 'Restriction by language' additional plugin==
[[File:Restriction by language.png|thumb|Restriction by language]]
Language filters are great, but sometimes they can make your resources and activities very complex.


1) Moodle looks for Blocks and it finds TWO blocks:
The [https://moodle.org/plugins/view.php?plugin=availability_language Restriction by language availability condition] is an additional plugin that makes it easy to show an English resource only to English users and an activity in French only to French speaking students.


Block A: <span lang="de">von links</span>
==Any questions?==
Block B:<span lang="en"><span="en"><font size="3"> </font></span>from the left</span>


2) For each block, Moodle display the better language. As Both blocks
Please post in the [https://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?id=43 Languages forum] on moodle.org.
only contain ONE lang tag, it's returned, so results are:


For Block A: von links
==See also==
For Block B: <span="en"><font size="3"> </font></span>from the left


Then obviously, in one web page, those results are showed as:
*[[Language]]
*Custom menu items in [[Theme settings]]
*[https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=320980 Translation of MOOC] forum discussion


von links
[[Category:Language]]
from the left


The key concept here is the Block of lang. Once you get it, everything is easily to understand.
[[de:Mehrsprachiger Inhalt]]
 
[[es:Filtro de contenido multi-idioma]]
Also note that the HTMLEditor seems to introduce an excess of "noisy" tags
[[fr:Contenu multilingue]]
under some circumstances and, if it does so between lang tags, it will be,
[[ja:多言語シンタックス]]
in fact, breaking your blocks of langs! It's always recommended to check the
final HTML generated by the HTML Editor in order to verify that the lang tags
(and their grouping together is conforming blocks of langs) are properly
written.</nowiki>
 
If I were to want to translate a word or phrase to a chosen language in an English text:
 
<nowiki>If I want to include an explanation <span lang="en"> </span>
<span lang="sv">(sv: förklaring)</span> in a running text can I do it?
<br />
<br /><span lang="en">If I want to include an explanation in a running text
can I do it? </span>
<span lang="sv">If I want to include an explanation (sv: förklaring) in a
running text can I do it?</span></nowiki>
 
would both work, but not:
 
<nowiki>If I want to include an explanation <span lang="en"></span>
<span lang="sv">(sv: förklaring)</span> in a running text can I do it?
<br />If I want to include an explanation <span lang="sv">(sv: förklaring)</span>
in a running text can I do it?<br /></nowiki>
which would show the Swedish even if English was the chosen language. NOTE the "span lang=en" must contain something, at least a space.
 
== See Also ==
[[Filters_%28administrator%29]]
 
Forum discussion  http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=51603

Latest revision as of 12:58, 28 September 2016

Displaying text in multiple languages

The multi-language content filter enables resources to be created in multiple languages. When turned on, it looks for <span lang="xx" class="multilang"> tags which indicate that a text contains multiple languages. Then it selects and outputs the text in the user's language (as set in their browser or in their preferences).

Enabling the multi-language content filter

An admin can enable the multi-language content filter as follows:

  1. Go to Site administration > Plugins > Filters > Manage filters and in the dropdown menu for multi-language content select 'On'.
  2. If headings are to be shown in multiple languages too, select 'Content and headings' in the 'Apply to' column. Note that this may affect site performance.

How to use in a course

To use this feature first create your contents in multiple languages (in the same resource). Then enclose each language block (aka multilang block) in the following tags:

      <span lang="XX" class="multilang">your_content_here</span>
      <span lang="YY" class="multilang">your_content_in_other_language_here</span>

It is essential to be in the code editing mode (press [<>] in the HTML editor), when you enter these tags for them to work. Only spaces, tabs and enters can be used between the individual languages in the multilang block.

Note: If your site uses a child language pack (see Language packs for the list), then the first span tag must be the parent language. Otherwise, when a user using the child language views the text, it will not be in the correct language for them (as reported in MDL-55197). For example, if your site uses en_us then the en span tag (as parent language) must be first i.e.

<span lang="en" class="multilang">your_content_in English</span>
      <span lang="de" class="multilang">your_content_in_German_here</span>

How to use for assignment submission agreements

  1. With the filter enabled, go to Site administration > Plugins > Activity modules > Assignment > Assignment settings.
  2. In the submission statement, add (for example)
      <span lang="en" class="multilang">This assignment is my own work, except where I have acknowledged the use of the works of other people.</span>
<span lang="fr" class="multilang">Ce devoir est le fruit de mon travail personnel, sauf aux endroits où l'utilisation d'oeuvre d'autres auteurs est clairement indiquée.</span> 

How it works internally

  1. Filter first looks for multilang blocks in the text
  2. For each multilang block:
    • If there are texts in the currently active language, print them
    • Else, if there exists texts in the current parent language, print them
    • Else, print the first language found in the text
  3. Text outside of multilang blocks will be shown always

Common problems

  • The multilang filter is not enabled. It can be enabled by a site administrator in Settings > Site administration > Plugins > Filters > Manage filters.
  • Extra characters between language span tags - editor might add <br /> or other tags, please review the html in source view
  • If the course setting is "force" some language, you won't be able to change the displayed language.
  • Extra spaces in language span tag
  • The multilang filter does not work with the course short name! A course's short name is meant as a unique course identifier, so it does not use the multilang filter

The 'Restriction by language' additional plugin

Restriction by language

Language filters are great, but sometimes they can make your resources and activities very complex.

The Restriction by language availability condition is an additional plugin that makes it easy to show an English resource only to English users and an activity in French only to French speaking students.

Any questions?

Please post in the Languages forum on moodle.org.

See also